• Outstanding example of an increasingly rare car

• Lovely russet leather interior, in great condition

• Fastidiously maintained

• Comprehensive history file

Jaguar first introduced the XJ6 saloon, available in either 2.8 or 4.2 litre engines, in 1968. From 1972, Jaguar's legendary 5.3-litre V12 engine was available in the XJ range, and for the Daimler version a name used by the company from 1926 to 1938 was revived. 

It was then-company Chairman ‘Lofty’ England who decided that the name ‘Daimler Double Six’ would be used (England had been a Daimler apprentice in his younger days, and the original Double Six was a twelve-cylinder car produced by the company in the 1920s).

In 1972 long-wheelbase versions were added to the options for both the XJ6, XJ12 and Daimler models and by 1975 this had become standard on all the models. In 1975 fuel injection replaced the four carburettors, increasing power to 285bhp. Only 1925 right-hand drive Series II cars were produced and so these are now rare cars.

The Daimler version of this car is much rarer than the Jaguars. Compared to the Jaguar model, the Double Six has a slightly more opulent interior and was significantly more expensive at the time. 

 

  

YBC 897S forms part of a small private collection of British classics and is being offered for sale to help fund a significant new purchase. 

This is an excellent example of the increasingly rare Series 2 Daimler Double Six with the legendary V12 engine. Manufactured on December 19th, 1977 and despatched to its first owner on February 8th, 1978, YBC 897 S is finished in the fantastic colour combination of dark blue coachwork with russet interior and has had six registered keepers since new.

YBC 897 S is offered to the market with an extensive history file. This goes back many years, and includes invoices and photographs for a full and comprehensive bodywork restoration carried out in 1999/2000 at a cost of well over £10,000. This stands up well 20 years later, a testament to the quality of work carried out at the time.

The car was last serviced in the summer of 2020 by Forest Motors Bordon, a classic-car specialist local to the vendor, with only around 150 miles completed since due to COVID restrictions. The proprietor of Forest Motors commented at the time what a fine example the car was. The current owner has kept the car garaged at all times since purchase.

The bodywork remains in very good order, with blemishes highlighted in the photographs: there are some small cracks in the paintwork on the nearside front door, and some blistering of the paint around the bottom corner of the windscreen on the car’s nearside.

There is also some bubbling on the offside headlamp surround. The ‘Everflex’ roof covering is in particularly good shape with no evidence whatsoever of any of the nastiness underneath which can be common with these cars.

The gold ‘coach line’ is in excellent condition, with no marks or blemishes. The glass in the driver’s door mirror is cracked but the vendor intends to replace this before the new owner collects the car.

The interior of YBC 897 S is in fine order. The upholstery has no significant wear to speak of, the wood dash has no cracks or peeling, and all the carpeting remains in very good condition. 

The original carpets have been protected by additional mats. The original radio works as it should. The car’s headlining was replaced in recent years, so is in excellent shape with none of the sagging so often seen in these cars. 

The car has some nice opulent touches, such as the vanity mirror in the lid of the glove box. Also in the glove box is the original leather wallet and owners’ manual. 

The Daimler-branded ‘kick-plates’ in each door opening have scuffs and scratches as one would expect on a car of this age. The door seals are lined with ‘Furflex’ which is in excellent condition. 

 

The engine starts readily at first turn of the key, and the car runs smoothly. It drives as would be expected of a recently serviced car, with the extensive history showing that it’s always been very well cared for. 

The engine and gearbox are both very smooth, and there are no knocks or undue noises from the suspension. All four wheels are in excellent condition and all of the tyres have lots of tread. Under the floor of the boot is a spare wheel, also in excellent condition and with a sound tyre. Also in the boot is an original jack, in its case. 

The car is supplied with two sets of keys. The car has twin fuel tanks and the mechanism for switching between the two works well – this is a common source of faults in this model. 

Unusually for a British Leyland product of the 1970s, all the electrics function on the car exactly as they should. The central locking works perfectly, all the electric windows work smoothly and the air conditioning blows cold.
 

Registered as a historic vehicle, YBC 897S is both tax and MOT-exempt. All in all, this is a fine example of the Daimler Double Six that has been well looked after throughout its life and has had a lot of money spent on it. 

There are few of these cars left in anything like this condition.